Biomechanical study of the pressure sustained by cervical cord-meningeal complex under three-dimensional movement

English Keywords:Cervical cord  Ventral caused by the pressure  Three-dimensional motion  Biomechanics

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the pressure sustained by cervical cord-meningeal complex(CCMC) and the strength under the 3D movement. Methods: 10 intact fresh cervical spines(C1-T1) from adult cadaver were collected, and a hemispherical steel ball was placed in the front of the spine canal through the C4/5 bone window to simulate the pressure of ventral side of CCMC caused by cervical disc herniation. The ventral side of CCMC was compressed with the depth of canal stenosis varying from 10％ to 60％(with an interval of 10％), and the pressure change on the ventral and dorsal side of CCMC following different depths of stress under the 3D movement was measured. Results: (1)In neutral position, 30° of extension, 30° of lateral and 15° of rotation, the pressure on the ventral side of CCMC showed no significance with strength of stress between 10% and 20%(P>0.05); while the pressure on the ventral side of CCMC increased with increasing the depth when the stress depth ranged from 30% to 60％, there was significance between neighboring depths of stress(P＜0.05). In 30° of flexion, the pressure on the ventral side of CCMC increased with increasing the depth from 10% to 60%, there was significance between neighboring depths(P<0.05). (2)The pressure on the dorsal side of CCMC showed no obvious increase with increasing the depth under any movement． There was no statistical significance between neighboring depths of stress(P>0.05). Conclusions: The pressure on the ventral side of CCMC is closely related with the depth of stress． Under the 3D movement, the pressure varies with the movement position. Flexion position may aggravate the injury of spinal cord.